Railway-traffic-controlling apparatus



July 13 1926. y

A v H. A. THOMPSON RAILWAY TRAFFIC CONTROLLING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 17, 1926 W. A w A@ WQ. w m Q Sw me ,me YQ B DQHQ, v 3d.. v\N W, m. A@ TI... n www A T .Y ,n b@ SD/ @AWB vkmmm 3P@ mmv Nw Q f@ N WM m@ QN l www ,A A www A A A@ w S L. .QW w. @www @N w l m v .o Q J. MN p J N m W uw .o mw @W Almm m SN An .w Imm H mw. www. All .fm M m mN .N L/ um U mwN b ANN @MN wm mwN Patented july 13, 1926i.

HGW'ARD TEEGMPSON, OF XVILKYSBUEG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE UNIONv or rnnnsrnvnnrn.

RAILVAY-TRAFFIC7CNTROLLING n APPARATUS.

Application filed February My invention relates to railway trallic contiplling` apparatus, and particularly toy apparatus of thetype comprising, a plurality of sections of railway track separated Vby insulated joints and each provided with governing means controlled by currents separately supplied to the several sections.

@ne object of my present invention is to prevent improper operation of the governingmeans for one such section by current from an adjacent section. i

'l will describe one formof railway tra ic controlling apparatus embodying` my invention, Yand will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

rhe accompanying drawing is a diagrammatic view illustrating one form of railway traflic controlling apparatus embodying` my invention.

Referring to the drawing, the `reference characters 1 and 1a designate the track rails of stretch of railway track over 'which trai c normally moves in the direction indicated by the arrow. rhese track rails are divided into a plurality of successive traclr sections ier-B, B-C, etc., by means of insulated jmnisY designated by the reference characters Q and 3, with exponents corresponding to the locations inserted in the track 'rails l and la, respectively'. Each traclr section is provided with a track transformer designated by the reference character 'E with an appropriate exponent and having a secondary 6 constantly connected across the rails adjacent the enit end of the associated section. in impedance e is interposed between rail 1 and one terminal of each secondary G. i similar impedance 5' is interposed between rail 1a and the other terminal of each secondary 6. The primary '7 of each track transformer T is constantly supplied with `alternating;` current from secondary 8 of an associated line transformer designated by the reference character L with an exponent corresponding` to the location. The primary 9 of each line transformer is constantly supplied Vwith alternating` current from a suitable source such as an alternator 1V over line wires Ll() and 0a.

VEaci track section is further provided with a traclr relay designated loy the reference character R with an'appropriate dis tinguishing exponent and comprising two windings 1() and 11. W'inding 10 of each rf, lass. serial no. 88,849.

track relay is constantly connected across the rails adjacent the entrance end of the corresponding` section.

An asymmetrical unit, designated by the referencev character 12 with an exponent corresponding to the location, is connected across each insulated joint 2 in rail l. A

similar asymmetrical unit, designated by thev reference character 13 with an appropriate exponent, is connected across each insulated joint 3 in rail 1a.` The asymmetrical units 12 and 13 may loe-cf any suitable form such for example as the rectifiers illustrated in an application for Letters Patent of the United States, Serial No. 1111iled January 7, 1925, by Lars O. Grond-ahi, for uni-directional current carrying devices.

issociated with each track relay are two detector relays designated by the reference L characters G' and H, respectively, wither-` ponents 'corresponding to the location. Each of these detector relays is designed to he operated' by uni-directional current and if supplied with alternating current requires an electroinotive force across its terminals of many times the electromotive force required to operate the relay on uni-directional current. ln apparatus embodying my invention theV detector relays are never supplied with alternating current of suliicient Yelectromotive force to operate the relays,

and for purposes of the present disclosure it therefore correct to state that the detector relays are responsiveto uni-directional current but not to alternating current.

iieferring` particularly to the apparatus located point- B, detector relay GB is pro'- vided with a circuit which may be traced from secondary 6 of track transformer TB. through wires le and 15, winding of relay GB, wire 16, rail 1 of section B-C, wire 17, asymmetrical unit 12B, wire 18, railV 1 of section ifi-B, wire 19, impedance l and wires 2O and 2Oa back to secondary 6. Under normal conditions therefore, 'the alternating current supplied by secondary G of transformer TB is changed by the asymmetrical unit 12B to uni-directional current which energizes relay GB. ln similar nanner, relay HB is provided with a circuit which may be traced from secondary 6 of transformer TB, through wires 20a and 21, winding of relay HB, wire rail 1a of section BMC, wire 28, asymmetrical unit 13B, wir@ ai, mi in of Section f wir@ 25, impedance 5, and yyire list. back to secondary (l. The current from secondary G is rectified by asymmetrical unit 13B and the uni-directional current which therefore flows through relay HB energize-s this relay.

The detector relaysG and H con ,rol the supply of current to Winding ll of the associated track relay R, the circuit for this vinding being complete only when the detector relays are both energized. Referring particularlyv to relay RB, when relays GB and HB are both energized current Hows from secondary 8 of line transformer LB, through Wires Qt, Qi' and 29, front contact Q9 of relay HB. Wire 30, front contact 3l of relay GB, Wire Winding ll of relay RB, and viires 33, 3land 35, back to seconillary 8 of transformer LB. li'hcn windings l() and ll are both supplied with lternatin e` current, this relay becomes energized and closes its front contact.

The trackway circuits thus far described may be utilized to control governing means of any suitable form. in the apparatus here shown each track section is proyided with a tracku'ay signal designated by the reference character S with an exponent corresponding to the location and capable of indicating proceed or cstop. lVhen relay RB is energized, current flows from secondary S of line transformer LB. tlu'ouojh wires Qt, QT and 3G, front contact l? of relay BB, Wire 35, operating mechanism of signal SB, and Wires 39, 3A and 35. back to secondary S of transformer LB. iVhen this circuit is closed, signal SB indicates proceed. Yhen relay RB is deenergized, the operating circuit for signal SB is broken and the signal then indicates stop".

As shown in the drawing, section --B and the section to the right of point C ar unoccupied, but a train, indicated diagrammatieally at V, occupies section B-C- All detector relays G and H are energized and current therefore .supplied to Winding ll of each track relay R. Current is also supplied to winding lt) of relays RC and RA, so that these relays are energized and signals SC and S indicate proceed. .Vinding l0 of relay RB is shunted by the Wheels and axles t' train V so that relay RB is cle-energized and signal SB indicates stop.

Under some conditions of operation a dangerous condition might exist should one er both of the insulated joints 2, 3 break down at the entrance to an occupiedsection thereby permitting current from the adjrcent section to energize the track relay for such occupied section. For example, t iyill assume that insulated joint 2B breaks down. Current might then tloyy from secondary G of transformer TB. through Wires 20 and Etf, impedance 4, wire lt), through rail l past insulated joint 2B to Winding l() of relay RB, then from rail l:t of section B-C to rail lpi of section A-B through the ground around insulated joint 3B, and so through 25, 5 and lll to secondary (3. The resistance between rail l Ot' section l-C and rail lL of section Anil through the ground might, under certain conditions, be so lou' that the current supplied to winding 10 under these conditions would be of suliicient magnitude to cause operation of relay lt, if ciu'reut were at the same time being supplied to winding ll of this relay. ln similar manner should insulated joint 23B break down, current might flow from secondary (3 of transformer TBT through wire il, impedance 5, Wire Q5 and rail l past insulated joint 23B to winding l() ol' relay ll, and from rail 'l of section lil- C to rail l of section -l-l through the ground back to the other terminal of secondary (i. Should insulated joints :2B and 3B both break doyfn the dangerous condition would simply be exaggeratetl because secondary b' of transformer 'lB would then be connected directly with winding it) of relay l. In either of these cases therefore it will be manifest that should an insulated joint break down and cause improper operation of relay ll, signal SB would indicate proceed eten though section ll-C were occupied by a train. lilith apparatus embodying my inyention this condition can not arise. For example, if insulated joint 2B breaks down, the asymmetrical unit 12B is shunted .so that detector relay GB is supplied with alternating current. instead of uni-dinectiomil current from transformer TB. But the magnitude of the alternating electromotive force then applied to relay GB is not suliicient to operate the relay which therefore bccemes cle-energized, openingl its front contact 31 and discontinuing the supply of altiernat'ing current to Winding ll of relay RB. rlhe track relay RB is therefore deenergizedr eyen though current may be supplied from transformer TB to winding lt) of this relay because ot the broken down insulated joint In similar manner, if insulated joint et:

.o breaks down, asymmetrical unit 13B is shunted so that alternating current is supplied to relay HB and this relay thereupon becomes cle-energized. rlhe opening of front contact 29 ot' relay HB de-eneugr/,cs` inding ll of a track relay RB so that the track relay is open, eren though current mightv be supplied to Winding l() thereof from transformer TB. It follows from the foregoing that if either of the insulated joints break doyynr` the associated detector relay becomes ile-energized. thereby preventing the supply of alternating current to vinding ll of the adjacent track relay R. 't is therefore impossible for a track relay to be improperly operated by current supplied thereto from the track transformer lor relay GB becomes open at any point the lll relay will opeiutherebyopening the circuit for winding ll ot relay RB and preventing a dangerous condition. Onvtne other hand, it

either ot the iectiliers becomes short circuited, the corresponding detector relaywill be supplied with 'alternating current and will open its front Contact, thereby discontinuingthe supply oit alternating current to he adjacent track relay and preventing im proper operation ofthe relay.

lt should be noted further that by including the impedances a and 5 in the circuits to the detector relays assurance is given al these relays will be energized even when ai train is located difectlyz at the points ot connection et the track transformer, a sui:- iicient electromotivetorce being supplied to each detector relay by the potential drop across one oi" the impedances 4 or 5. Under normal conditions therefore the detector relays Gf and ll are always energized and become'de-energized only when some 'aultoccurs against which protection is desirable.

VAlthough l have herein shown and described only one 'torni ot railway tratiic con- 'rolling apparatus embodying my invention, t is understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein within the scope ot the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope'ot my invention. 'A

Having thus described my invention, what l claim is:

l. ln combination, two adjacent sections ot railway track separated by an insulated rail joint, a source ot alternating` current connected with the rails oil one such section, a track relay having a tirst winding connected with the rails oit the other section and a second winding, an asymmetrical unit connected in parallel with said insulated joint` a detector relayA responsive to uni-r directional current but not to alternating current, a circuit tor said detector relay including a source ot alternating current and said asymmetrical unit, and means controlled by said det :tor relay for supplying alternating current to the second winding of said track relay.

2, ln combination? two adjacent sections oit railway track separated by an insulated rail joint, a source ot alternatingV current connected with the rails ot one such section, a track relay having a iirst winding connected with the rails ot the other section and a second winding, a detector relay, means ior normally energizing said detector relay and tor cle-energizing the detector relay it' said joint breaks down, and means controlled by said detector relay for supplying alternating current to the second winding ot said track relay. Y Y

3. lnrcombination, two adjacent sections ot railway track separated by insulated joints vin the track rails, a source oit alternating current connected. with the rails ot one such section, a track relay having a first winding connected with the rails of the other section and a second winding, two detector relays, means tor normally energizing one said detector relay such relay becoming de-energized it one et said joints breaks down, means tor normally energizing said second detector relay such second detector relay becoming cle-energized it the other said joint breaks down, and means controlled by said two detector relays tor supplying` alternating current to the second winding of said track relay.

e ln combination, two adjacent sec-tions or" railway track separated by insulated joints in the track rails, a source ot alternating current connected with the rails of one such section, a track relay having a first winding' connected with the rails of the other section and a second winding, an asymmetrical unit connected in parallel with one said insulated joint, a detector relay responsive to uni-directional current but not to alternating current, means tor connecting said detector relay with said source through said asymmetrical unitso that the relay is normally supplied with uni-directional curmeans controlled by said detector relay 'for supplying alternating current to the secondL winding of. said track relay.

5. ln combination, two adjacent sections or" railway track separated by insulated joints in the track rails, a source ot alternating current connected with the rails ot one such section, a track relay having a lirst winding connected with the rails eti the other section and a second winding, an asyn'nnetrical unit connected in parallel with one said insulated joint, a detector relay responsive to uni-directional current but not to alternating current, means tor connecting` said detector relay with said source through said asymmetrical unit so that the relay is normally supplied with uni-directional cur` rent but is suppliedwith alternating current it said one insulated joint breaks down, and means for supplying alternating current to the second winding of said track relay only wneu said detector relay is enere gized.

6. In combination, two adjacent sections ot railway track separated by insulated joints in the track rails, a source of alternat` ing current connected across the rails yot one section, a track relay having one winding connected across the rails ot the other sec lll) Cal

tion and a second winding, two asymmetrical units one connected across each of said insulated joints, two detector relays each responsive to uni-directional current hut not to alternating current, a circuit for one said detector relay including a source of alternating current an one ot' said asymmetrical units, a circuit tor the other detector relay including a source ot alternating current and the remaining asymmetrical unit, and means controlled hy .aid two detector relays for supplying alternating current to the second winding ot' said track relay.

'l'. ln comi nation, two adjacent sections ot' railway track sejiarated by insulated joints in the track rails, :i source of alternating current connected across the rails ot' one section, a tracl: relay having one winding connected across the rails ot' the other section and a second winding, two asymmetrical units one connected across each ot said insulated join' two detector relays each resjonsive to uni-directional cnr rent but not alternating current, a circuit for one said detector relay including a source ot alternating current and one ol said asymmetrical units, a circuit lor the other detector relay including a source of' alternating current and the remaining asymn'ietlical unit', and a circuit 'tor the Second winding ot' said track relay including a source ot alternating` current and a iront contact on each said detector relay.

8. ln combination, a t'irst and a second section ot railway track separated by insulated joints in the track rails, a source ot alternating current connected across the rails oi said first section, two impedanccs one interposed between each rail and said source` a track relay having two windings one ot which is connected across the rails o'l'l said second section, two asynmetrrical units one connected across each said insulated joint, a lirst detector relay having one terminal connected with one rail of said second section and the other terminal connected directly with one terminal ot said source, a second detector relay having one terminal connected with the other rail of the second section and the other terminal connected lirectly with the remaining terminal of said source, said two detector relays being responsive to uni-directional current hut not to alternating current, and means controlled hy said detector relays lor supplying alternating' current to the remaining winding ot said track relay.

9. Means ior checking an insulated rail joint comprising an asyminertical unit connected in parallel with said joint, a relay responsive to uni-directiomil current 1Lut' not to alterm'itingl current, and a circuit for said relay including said asji'nnnetrical unit and a source ot alternating current.

l0. Means for checking insulation comprising an asynnnetrical unit connected in parallel with said insulation, a relay responsive to unidirectional current hut not to alternatingcurrent and a circuit tor said relay including said asymmetrical unit and a source of alternating current.

ll. ln combination, two electric circuits separated by insulation, an asymmetrical unit connected in parallel with said insulation, a detector relay responsive to uni-directional current hut not to alternating` current, a circuit tor said relay including said asymmetrical unit and a source olt alternating current. and a second relay controlled jointly by one ot the l'irst mentioned circuits nd by said detector relay.

l2. ln comliimition. two conductors scp-arated hy an insulated joint, a relay having tufo windings, an electric circuit including one winding ot said lirst relay and one ot said conductors, an asymmetrical unit connected in parallel with said joint, a dctector relay responsive to uni-directional. current but not to alternating current, a circuit, for said detector .relay including said asymmetrical unit and a source oi alternating current, and a circuit for the remaining winding ot said lirst relay controlled hy said detector relay.

13. In combination, two adjacent sectiens of railway track separated hy an insulated rail joint. an asymmetrical unit connected in parallel with said joint, a relay. a circuit ior said relay including said asymmetrical unit and a source of alternating current, and governing means controlled in part by said relay.

ln testimony whereof I atlix my signature.

HOlVARD A. THOMPSON. 

